Manchester, New Hampshire (CNN) - Mitt Romney played political pundit Thursday, telling reporters what he hoped to hear President Obama discuss in his much-hyped Democratic National Convention speech that evening.

"I actually think it will be interesting to listen to the president tonight," Romney told a small group of reporters at an impromptu stop in Concord, New Hampshire, as he reeled off a list of areas - like reining in the national debt and restarting the sluggish job market - where he said the president had failed. "The president needs to report tonight on his promises rather than try to reset a whole series of new promises that he won't be able to keep."

The GOP presidential candidate had dropped by the unveiling of the "New Hampshire Military Veterans and Families for Mitt" group, a phone bank where veterans were doing voter outreach, as he traveled back from three days of debate preparations in Vermont.

Romney, who had spent the intensive prep time huddled with advisers at a secluded home, said he had not watched the convention speeches of first lady Michelle Obama nor former President Clinton, and he did not expect to watch Obama's either.

"You asked the question am I going to watch tonight," Romney told reporters who shouted questions to him during the quick stop. "If I heard, or if in the excerpts that are put out I hear, the president is going to report on the promises he made and how he has performed on those promises then I would love to watch it."

The presidential candidate said if elected he would create more jobs for veterans returning from Afghanistan, and thanked the veterans working the phones at his drop-by for calling voters to spread his message.

Afterward, a reporter asked Romney about criticism he had not specifically mentioned U.S. troops or the war in Afghanistan during his convention speech last week.

Romney pointed to remarks he gave at an American Legion convention last Wednesday in Indiana, the day before he addressed the Republican National Convention. The candidate made a day trip to Indianapolis that morning to attend the event.

"My commitment to the military is as shown here and at the American Legion," Romney said. "The president was also invited to the American Legion and he was too busy to go. It was during my convention. I went to the American Legion, described my views with regards to our military, my commitment to our military, my commitment to our men and women in uniform."

soundoff(70 Responses)

Willard

Yes, Mitt, watch it; you may learn something about honesty (not only lies)!

September 6, 2012 04:33 pm at 4:33 pm |

IF YOU SIGNED GROVER'S PLEDGE, YOU'RE A TRAITOR TO THE U.S.

"The president was also invited to the American Legion and he was too busy to go."
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Tammy Duckworth put you on blast last night Willard. You're a fraud. You attend veteran functions for a photo opportunity. You're all for increased defense spending, but you don't mention anything regarding military families, multiple deployments, PTSD, employment for veterans, etc. Not to mention that you're a draft dodger with 5 deferments. Men were dying in Vietnam while you were in France having lattes.

September 6, 2012 04:34 pm at 4:34 pm |

Hammerer

No worry. Same speach he has made 100 times before.
As they say keep repeating a lie over and over and sooner or later someone will believe it.

September 6, 2012 04:34 pm at 4:34 pm |

Laverne

Yeah coming from a guy who won't show taxes, won't give any details to his policies, won't stand up to his party, won't talk about anything other than Obama. Romney is done!

September 6, 2012 04:36 pm at 4:36 pm |

Four and The Door

MITT ROBME DRAFT DODGING, TAX EVADING POS
...Mitt Robme is a NO SHOW...and like Bill Clinton pointed out; they want to win by default and NOT by proferring any solutions because the know the GOP AGENDA stinks, Ryan Budget stinks, Ryan Medicare/Social Security Voucher program stinks, more TAX CUTs stinks, more TRILLION dollars WARS stinks....
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Let's see if Obama comes up with a budget that ever begins paying down the national debt. Let's see if he presents a plan to help create 12 million jobs in the next 4 years, save Medicare from going broke, or cutting middle class taxes. Because Romney/ Ryan 2012 has already done all of these. I am guessing on your points Obama is a no-show tonight. Like he has been since January 2009.

September 6, 2012 04:36 pm at 4:36 pm |

myviewis

Let me guess, Obama could not work it into his schedule to visit the American Legion in person? Yet he has plenty of time to hang out with George Clooney, play basketball, attend a wedding, etc......"Obama addressed American Legion convention attendees via video."

September 6, 2012 04:38 pm at 4:38 pm |

linda

Mitt you just might learn something tonight by watching Obama on how to be an honest, upstanding, respectful man.....and while your at it have Ryan tune in too........

September 6, 2012 04:38 pm at 4:38 pm |

SOUTHERN HOTTIE

"The president needs to report tonight on his promises rather than try to reset a whole series of new promises that he won't be able to keep."

Romney is better at word salad than Palin. Gimme a break! Where are his specifics? Bashing Obama doesn't count as one of them.

September 6, 2012 04:39 pm at 4:39 pm |

Ron in Texas

Yes the economy was a wreck when Obama took office but the spending bills are budgeted out for ten years. Both sides are to blame as one does not want to cut while the other thinks cutting taxes will cure the ecomomy. WRONG. We need both so unless there is compromise ( that dirty word) nothing will get down and Congress is so divided that I don't think it will matter which candidate wins unless one party wins majority so it would not matter.

September 6, 2012 04:39 pm at 4:39 pm |

The Unsub

will George W. Bush join him on the campaign trail?.....NOT! CASE CLOSED!

September 6, 2012 04:41 pm at 4:41 pm |

Lisa P

So I guess Mitt Romney plans to not break any promises by not making any promises.

Oh - except for his claim (but would that count as a promise?) that if we let the energy sector do whatever it pleases that 12 million jobs will be created. Think about that. In his chat with the empty chair Clint Eastwood said that there are currently 23 million unemployed people in America today. The fact checkers point out that that number includes people looking for work, people no longer looking for work, and part-time employees who would like to find something full time (i.e., the "underemployed"). But let's just overlook that for the moment. Mitt Romney is claiming that merely by letting the energy sector do whatever it wants - which it is practically doing right now - half of all the unemployed and underemployed people in America today will magically find jobs of the type they desire. What kinds of jobs those might be Mitt does not say.

Forget promises. It seems to me that on this issue Mitt Romney does not pass Bill Clinton's arithmetic test. Simple math shows his claim to be simply preposterous.

September 6, 2012 04:42 pm at 4:42 pm |

Dee

I am sure it will be regurgitated ideas of the past and possibly if he is smart a promise to compromise to get things done. Compromise to Obama has been like GOD and Israel to the Democrats so that may be hard passing through is lips. Shouldering any responsibility for some mistakes might also be wise but since he is an egomaniac of proportions we have not seen in decades that is unlikely.

September 6, 2012 04:43 pm at 4:43 pm |

myviewis

linda

Mitt you just might learn something tonight by watching Obama on how to be an honest, upstanding, respectful man.....and while your at it have Ryan tune in too........
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Now don't go holding Obama to anything he promises tonight, you know he always backpedals the next day.

Boehners starting to cry,he knows the end is near,his extreme aganda not being finished,the failing of America,how unpatriotic but that's the party of "NO" isn't it!!His obstructionistic party now associated with the S&P downgrade,his obstructing job bills,his record votes to overthrow the ACA bill now at 32,his insistence that its the presidents never agreeing with anything bipartisan,yah tight.Record number of bills with tax cuts for millionairs,his helping Cantor turn down emergency aid to flood stricken states even in Cantors own state until the president signed executive orders for aid to the northern states affected by that flooding.Making Bush tax cuts for millionaires permanent..Getting bills on the floor passed then if finding the president agrees he turns around and gets them scrubbed from the vote,how pathedic,how unpatriotic isn't it,but he's republican what do you expect!!Now Pres.Clinton speaks his mind telling the public whats really going on its starting to get interesting isn't it,voters believe him,he had a good economic plan,he left a surplus,he did welfare reform,he regulated Wall Street ,so people listen because he's proven again and again that the democratic party is far superior for citizens than republicans big business stances,two different worlds,one for people,rights,one for business ,corporations,money,nothing even close..And one more thing republicans the lie Democrates are big government don't fly here,Pres.Obama has shrunk government 25% smaller than Bush started with,republicans ,Bush alone hired 50,000 IRS case workers alone ,check out the facts,that's not all!!

September 6, 2012 04:43 pm at 4:43 pm |

DumbasRocks [R]s

Four - sorry you're in such a foul mood. I guess its becasue you got an a$$-kicking at the hands of Bill Clinton yet again. You neo-morons must be getting quite tired of that. But let's face it, you uberpartisan drama queens make it so easy for someone with brains and a grasp on reality to rain on your vapid rightwing fairytale.

What a very stupid thing you said in your post about Romney/Ryan 2012. Wake up! You morons lost the election at the point Mittens chose Ryan as a running mate. At that point Romney could no longer hide [R] regressive policies with a shake of his etch-a-sketch....at that point he had to outright defend the very rightwing stupidity that his vice-pres candidate so strongly represents, and that he has been trying to timidly avoid with his etch-a-sketching of [R] reality since the [R] primary clown show started. The TeaParty has already lost this election to the [D], you numdnutz are just too dumb too know it.

Go Presidens Obama and Clinton!

September 6, 2012 04:44 pm at 4:44 pm |

IF YOU SIGNED GROVER'S PLEDGE, YOU'RE A TRAITOR TO THE U.S.

Hey Willard! Does Hanes or Fruit of the Loom manufacture your magic underwear? Aren't you a bit too old to be wearing tighty whities? That must be why you walk like a stiff and Herman Munster.

September 6, 2012 04:45 pm at 4:45 pm |

Jessie P.

Republicans have stated "we won't run our campaign on Fact Checkers" which means they are only running on their lies and absolutely no facts, so therefore Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan won't get my vote because I refuse to vote for people who refuse to tell us the truth. They want all of us to be dumb and not check the facts by independent fact checker groups. Wake up people...........vote for Obama!

September 6, 2012 04:46 pm at 4:46 pm |

Meka

Not 1 thing Romney has accomplished for America...ONLY SELF!
THE WOUNDED SOILDERS COULD USE SOME OF HIS "UN-PAID TAXES" . . . Romney, bring your money back to the USA! And PAY YOUR TAXES.

September 6, 2012 04:47 pm at 4:47 pm |

mmwheatley

We are NOT better off with "your Majesty" Obama!!! look at the gas prices, look at the welfare lines, look at the number of increase of people having to depend on food stamps....I do NOT want a Nanny Obamaized country... let America be what she was meant to be a place where we are free to work, freedom of liberty, freedom to worship ( some Dems had it forced down their throats to accept God back into their platform!) How many years can the 'little emperor' be given??? You could give him forever and his way does not work!

"Both sides are to blame as one does not want to cut while the other thinks cutting taxes will cure the ecomomy. WRONG. We need both so unless there is compromise "

Not that it will change your grossly oversimplified generalizations of the parties' positions, but the FACT is that Obama has (a) proposed and ENACTED tax cuts, (b) proposed and ENACTED spending cuts, (c) proposed raising taxes in very specific ways and (c) kept gov't spending growth down to 1.3% per year, which is the lowest it's been since Eisenhower. HE has placed EVERYTHING on the table as it should be. The only people who haven't put EVERYTHING on the table and have taken the " my way or no way, and no compromises" approach are the GOPers/Teatrolls.

September 6, 2012 04:51 pm at 4:51 pm |

The Real Tom Paine

-Four and The Door

MITT ROBME DRAFT DODGING, TAX EVADING POS
...Mitt Robme is a NO SHOW...and like Bill Clinton pointed out; they want to win by default and NOT by proferring any solutions because the know the GOP AGENDA stinks, Ryan Budget stinks, Ryan Medicare/Social Security Voucher program stinks, more TAX CUTs stinks, more TRILLION dollars WARS stinks....
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Let's see if Obama comes up with a budget that ever begins paying down the national debt. Let's see if he presents a plan to help create 12 million jobs in the next 4 years, save Medicare from going broke, or cutting middle class taxes. Because Romney/ Ryan 2012 has already done all of these. I am guessing on your points Obama is a no-show tonight. Like he has been since January 2009.
****************************
No president has ever produced 12 million jobs in 4 years, so Mitt is just throwing out a number to save his a$$. He favored Ryan's plan, which would destroy Medicare, and he has been lying about the amount of money Obamacare supposedly stole, since all eh wants to do is put up a smokescreen about killing off Medicare. And since when has the GOP given a rat a$$ about cutting taxes for the middle class: everything is geared towards the persecuted " job creators" who have been creating jobs anywhere but here. Every objective estimate of Romney's plan says it will make the curent debt look like a bill from McDonald's. It is nothing short of right-wing social engineering: you're just too scared or ignorant to admit it.

September 6, 2012 04:52 pm at 4:52 pm |

The Real Tom Paine

myviewis

linda

Mitt you just might learn something tonight by watching Obama on how to be an honest, upstanding, respectful man.....and while your at it have Ryan tune in too........
--------

Now don't go holding Obama to anything he promises tonight, you know he always backpedals the next day.
************
No, that's Ryan on his marathon time, and Romney on everything he's ever done.

September 6, 2012 04:52 pm at 4:52 pm |

Sandra

@ Dee,
You are confusing Obama with Romney. He is the one who only talks about ideas of the past.

September 6, 2012 04:55 pm at 4:55 pm |

1twinsfan

Gee, I thought Mitt would be too busy to watch what with looking for hit taxes and all.